cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/70211850

More than 10 years later, Clarke and her BAS colleagues not only use satellite imagery to identify different whale species by observing flippers and flukes in the water, but can spot whale strandings almost anywhere in the world. Using digital eyes in the sky since 2019, they’re part of a global effort pioneering the monitoring of inaccessible coastlines and the tracking of cetaceans.

With the number of reported whale strandings rising significantly in some regions during the last two decades, spying on these marine animals from space has become an increasingly important tool in seeking answers about mass die-offs. In the future, scientists hope satellite technology can be used in a systematic manner to spot strandings sooner, intervene more quickly and identify potential causes.